Summer skis

ABSTRACT

D R A W I N G A MODIFIED FORM OF SKIING IS ACHIEVED AT ANY TIME OF THE YEAR AND IN ANY CLIMATE BY PROVIDING A LAYER OF ICE ON THE BOTTOM OF THE SKI WHICH IS OF SUFFICIENT THICKNESS TO LAST FOR A SUBSTANTIAL DOWNHILL RUN. THE ICE COATED SKIS CAN BE USED WITH PARTICULAR FACILITY ON HILLS THAT ARE COVERED WITH LONG GRASS BUT MAY OTHER TYPES OF NATURAL GROUND COVERING MATERIAL MAY ALSO BE USED. CONVENTIONAL SKIS MAY BE ADAPTED FOR SUCH USE BY THE APPLICATION OF A LAYER OF SUITABLE MATERIAL TO THE RUNNING SURFACES OF THE SKIS AND BY THE DEVELOPMENT OF AN ICY LAYER THAT CLINGS TO THIS MATERIAL AND PRESENTS A SLIPPERY SURFACE TO THE GROUND COVERING. THE ICY LAYER WILL WEAR OFF OR MELT DURING THE RUN AND THE SKIS MAY BE RECOATED WITH ICE BY SUITABLE FREEZING APPARATUS AT THE TOP OF THE HILL BEFORE STARTING A DOWNHILL RUN.

Sept. 20, 1971 J. F. ENGELBERGER SUMMER SKIS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 21, 1969 INVENTOR JOSEPH F ENGELBERGER Afro neys 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 J. F; ENGELBERGER SUMMER SKIS Sept. 20, 1971 Filed Jan. 2 1, 1969 Patented Sept. 20, 1971 3,606,366 SUMMER SKIS Joseph F. Engelberger, RED. 1, Taunton Hill Road, Newtown, Conn. 06475 Filed Jan. 21, 1969, Ser. No. 792,274 Int. Cl. A63c /04 US. Cl. 28011.1 11 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A modified form of skiing is achieved at any time of the year and in any climate by providing a layer of ice on the bottom of the ski which is of sufficient thickness to last for a substantial downhill run. The ice coated skis can be used with particular facility on hills that are covered with long grass but many other types of natural ground covering material may also be used.

Conventional skis may be adapted for such use by the application of a layer of suitable material to the running surfaces of the skis and by the development of an icy layer that clings to this material and presents a slippery surface to the ground covering. The icy layer will wear off or melt during the run and the skis may be recoated with ice by suitable freezing apparatus at the top of the hill before starting a downhill run.

The present invention relates to skis, and more particularly to skis adapted for use in the summertime or on other occasions when there is no snow or ice present on downhill slopes.

In the past, skiing has been confined to those parts of the country having suitable snow and suitable cold weather, and to those times of the year when the temperature is low enough to maintain a suitable snow cover. The purpose of the present invention is to make possible a modified form of skiing at any time of the year and in any climate.

In brief, the present invention comprises a pair of skis to which there has been added a rough or fuzzy undercoating capable of accepting and holding in place a layer of friction-reducing ice. Water is applied to this undercoating and is converted to ice by freezing. The resulting layer of ice adheres to the material and is held to the running surface of the skis even after flexing of the skis has broken the ice into smaller segments. The resulting skis carry their own friction-reducing ice layer, and may be used when there is no ice or snow cover on the earth. Skis so equipped can be used for skiing down hills covered with long grass or other natural types of cover. The ice-covered surface distributes the weight of the skier over a large area and prevents the skis from destroying the natural grass cover. The rough, knobby or fuzzy undercoating holds the ice in place in spite of flexing produced by pumps, rough terrain, and the like.

The invention, both as to its organization and method of operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof will best be understood by reference to the following specification taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of skis designed in accordance with the present invention and used to carry a skier down a grass-covered hill;

FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view of one of the skis of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of a ski illustrating one embodiment of the present invention by means of which an ice-returning layer of material may be added to a conventional ski;

FIG. 4 illustrates one form of apparatus suitable for applying a coating of ice to the running surfaces of skis in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along the lines 55 in FIG. 4 and on a somewhat larger scale;

FIG. '6 is a sectional view taken along the lines 6-6 in FIG. 5 and on a still larger scale; and

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary top view of the apparatus of FIG. 4.

Referring now to the drawings, there is shown in FIG. 1 a skier utilizing a pair of skis designed in accordance with the present invention, sliding down a grass-covered hill. The skis 20 and 22 are of conventional design, and are equipped with bindings 24 and 26 which may be of any suitable type insofar as the present invention is concerned. The skier 2 8 wears conventional ski boots 30 and 3-2, but otherwise is dressed in clothing suitable for the climate and the place.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the ski 22 showing an icy coating on the running surfaces of the ski 22 that makes it possible for the ski 22 to be used when there is no snow. Specifically, a layer of ice 34 is bound to the lower portion of the ski 22. The layer of ice 34 is held in place by a rough, knobby or fuzzy material, indicated generally at 36 in FIG. 2, which is attached to the running surface of the ski 22 in any suitable manner and is flexible so that it will remain securely connected to the running surface of the ski despite flexing thereof and usage during downhill runs. In one embodiment the material 36 is of felt which entwines the ice layer 34 with a multitude of fiber-like connections so as to hold it securely to the running surface of the ski even though the ice layer 34 becomes cracked or crazed due to flexing.

The ice layer 34 is applied to the material 36 in any suitable manner. Furthermore, the layer 34 can be applied to the ski either immediately before the skis are used, or at an earlier time, with the skis being kept in a freezing compartment until just before they are used. In either case, the ski must be used quickly before the ice layer 34 melts and disappears. The warmer the weather, the sooner the ski must be used. In relatively cold weather when there is no snow, it is possible for the icy layer to last a substantial length of time without being regenerated. While the number of runs which can be made, or the length thereof, will vary with many factors. I have found that several runs of a length of several hundred feet may be made in 70 to weather with a layer 34 approximately A" to thick.

FIG. 3 illustrates one manner by which a rough, knobby or fuzzy surface can be applied to the running surface of a ski. A pressure sensitive tape 38, having adhesive on both sides thereof, is first secured to the running surface of the ski 22. Then a layer of felt 40 is applied and forced into the pressure sensitive tape 38. This particular arrangement is advantageous, since conventional snow skis can in this manner be simply and economically adapted for summer skiing. The pressure sensitive tape 38. and the felt 40 can be applied in the spring, and then removed in the fall. Alternatively, the felt layer 40 may be permanently and directly attached to the ski 22 by means of any suitable adhesive and the ski 22 can be used solely for summer skiing and for skiing in the absence of snow.

It is not necessary to use felt on the underside of the ski 22 to provide an ice retaining surface. Any suitable flexible material having a rough irregular or knobby surface or a surface containing a plurality of fibers, which can be readily attached or secured to the running surface of the ski can be used. Materials such as burlap and rugging have been found to be satisfactory. The purpose of a fuzzy, knobby or fibrous undercoating is to hold ice crystals to the lower portion of the ski even after the ski is flexed. When ice is first formed on the lower portion of a ski, the ice tends to form a large sheet. If it were not for the fact that a portion of the ice layer is frozen around projecting portions of the undercoating, the ice layer would tend to break off and fall from the ski when the ski is first flexed. The presence of fibers or other projections extending into the ice, however, prevents the ice from falling off. After the ski has been flexed several times, the iced running surface of the ski may become checked and cracked into relatively small irregularlyshaped pieces, but these pieces are held on by the fibers or other projections and collectively serve as a frictionreducing force-bearing surface separating the ski from the ground.

The lower portion of the ski shown in FIG. 2 has an ice layer 34 that tappers down towards the edges of the ski so that at least a portion of the conventional metal edges -42, 44 of the ski 22 are exposed. Such an arrangement has the advantage that friction may be selectively introduced, by tilting the ski so that one of the edges 42, 44 comes into contact with the ground, which will facilitate turning the skis and improve their maneuverability. In the alternative, the ice layer 34 can be extended to the edge of the ski, and may even be extended up around the outer edge portions 46 and 48 of the ski 22.

FIGS. 4 to 7, inclusive, illustrate one form of apparatus which can be used for applying ice to the running surface of skis designed as shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3. Referring first to these figures, there is shown a motordriven conveyor 50 that carries a plurality of skis 51 through an elongated freezing chamber, indicated generally at 52, which has a plurality of freezing compartments or sections 54. The conveyor 50 includes a wide flexible belt 56, supported on rollers 63, which is provided with pairs of openings 58 therein which are adapted to receive the downturned curved ends of the skis 51, so that the running surfaces of the skis, which are covered With a material having a rough, fibrous or knobby surface, as described heretofore, are facing upwards. A series of alignment brackets 60, 61 and 62 (FIG. 6) are arranged transversely across the belt 56 at spaced intervals to align the skis when they are placed on the belt 56, so that the running surfaces thereof will be properly registered with respect to a plurality of spray nozzles 64 within each compartment 54. The compartment 54 is provided with side walls 66, 68 and top and bottom walls 70, 72 of suitable insulating material so that a relatively low temperature may be produced and maintained within the compartment. The skis are placed on the conveyor 50 outside the freezing chamber 52 and may be prechilled by storage in a suitable freezer for a few minutes before they are placed on the conveyor, if desired. The skis enter the compartment 54 through an end wall 74 having an opening 76 which is preferably of small dimensions to prevent the entrance of heat from the exterior. A pool or reservoir of liquid coolant such as liquid nitrogen 80 is provided adjacent the end wall 74 and subjects the skis to an initial cooling operation so that the temperature thereof is rapidly brought to a low value. Also, a fan 82 is provided in the top Wall 70 which circulates cooling gases evolved from the first stage liquid so that the material on the running surfaces of the skis is brought to a low temperature. The skis then pass by a separator 84 into a spray compartment having a plurality of spray nozzles 64 immediately above each ski. The separator 84 tends to prevent circulation of the cooling gases into the spray compartment so that the nozzles 64 therein do not freeze up. If desired, the cooling and spraying operations can be performed in entirely separate compartments through which the conveyor 50 moves, by the use of appropriate baifles, and flexible separators, as will be readily runderstood by those skilled in the refrigeration art. The nozzles 64 are arranged to emit a fine spray of water which strikes the cooled running surface of the skis 52 and immediately freezes thereon. The ice layer 34 is built up to the desired thickness by employing a number of sets of nozzles 64 spaced along the length of the conveyor 4 50 and by employing a number of similar freezing compartments through which the skis move, in the event that the initial cooling operation by exposure to the liquid and gaseous coolants is insuflicient to maintain the ski temperature at a sufficiently low value while the ice layer 34 is being built up.

After the ice layer 34 has been formed the skis move out of the far end of the last freezing compartment and are taken off of the conveyor 50. In this connnection, it is pointed out that if the metal edges of the skis are to be left bare, these edges should be covered with a layer of masking tape, or the like, before the skis are placed on the conveyor 50. This tape may be peeled off after the ice layer 34 has been formed so that the edge of the skis are exposed. However, the shape of the sprays emitted by the nozzles 64 may be made such that a larger amount of spray strikes the middle portion of the ski and the ice layer 34 tappers down as it approaches the edges of the ski. Moreover, any particular cross section of the ice layer may be provided by properly shaping the distribution of water over the width of the ski during the freezing operation. For example, a pair of sprays may be used for each ski which builds up two layers of ice separated by a groove or depression in the middle of the ski similar to the groove in the running surface of a conventional ski. Also, the ice-retaining layer of material 36 may be pressed into the groove 41 in the ski 22 when it is attached to the ski so that a corresponding groove will be formed in the ice layer 34 to provide better maneuverability of the skis.

It will be appreciated that the ice layer 34 may be deposited on the running surfaces of the skis 22 by means of any suitable flash freezing arrangement. For example, the running surfaces, i.e. the material 36, may be immersed in liquid nitrogen or liquid nitrogen may be poured over these surfaces to chill them to the required temperaturebefore or in between the spraying operations. In the alternative, the ice layer 34 may be deposited by ordinary non-flash freezing techniques. Thus, the freezing compartments may be made quite long and held at a low temperature 'so that water which is sprayed on the skis at one end of each compartment has a chance to freeze before another layer is added in the next compartment. In such instance the use of liquid coolants may be dispensed with. However, a considerably larger conveyor and freezing chamber arrangement is required, as will be readily apparent to those skilled in the refrigeration art.

Since the return run of the conveyor 50 is shown as passing back through the freezing compartments, ice may tend to form or cling to the conveyor which would make correct positioning of the skis on the belt 56 more difl-icult. Accordingly, a series of heat sources are positioned adjacent the under side of the bottom run of the conveyor 50 so as to remove ice from the belt 56 and brackets 60, 61 and 62 before skis are again loaded onto this portion of the conveyor.

While there has been described what is at present considered to be the preferred embodiment of the invention, it will be understood that various modifications may be made therein which are within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. The method of downhill skiing on surafces which are devoid of snow or ice, which comprises coating the bottom surface of a pair of skis with a layer of ice, securing said ice coated skis to the feet, and proceeding downhill by contact between the ice coated skis and the natural ground cover thereon.

2. A summer skiing arrangement, comprising a pair of skis, means for securing said pair of skis to the feet, means providing a rough surface along at least a portion of the bottom surface of said skis, and means for freezing water onto said rough surface to form a layer of ice thereon of suflicient thickness to permit skiing over natural ground cover.

3. A ski for downhill skiing on surfaces devoid of snow and ice, said ski having means for securing the same to the foot and being provided with an extended bottom surface, and means secured to said bottom surface and providing a base on which may be readily formed an iced running surface in such manner that said ski will have a relatively low coefficient of sliding friction with respect to the downhill skiing surface, said base providing means including downwarly extending portions which are embedded in the ice layer as it is formed, thereby to retain the ice layer secured to the ski despite flexing thereof.

4. The combination of claim 3, wherein said base providing means includes a multitude of downwardly extending fibers which are embedded in the ice layer, thereby to hold the ice layer to the ski despite cracking of the ice layer when the ski is flexed.

5. The combination of claim 3, wherein said base providing means includes a layer of felt the bottom surface of which is secured to said ice layer.

6. An arrangement for downhill skiing on surfaces devoid of snow and ice, comprising a ski having an elongated bottom surface, means for securing said ski to a human foot, a backing strip of relatively coarse material, means for securing said backing strip to said elongated bottom surface, and means for securing a layer of ice to said backing strip.

7. An arrangement for downhill skiing on surfaces devoid of snow and ice, comprising a ski having an elongated bottom surface, means for securing said ski to a human foot, a backing strip of a fibrous material, means for securing said backing strip to said elongated bottom said to said bottom surface, and a layer of ice secured to said backing strip.

9. The combination of claim 8, wherein the means for securing said backing strip to said elongated bottom surface includes a pressure sensitive adhesive.

10. An arrangement which may be used by humans for sliding on surfaces devoid of ice and snow, comprising a pair of members, means for securing each of said members to a human foot, and a layer of ice on at least a portion of the bottom surface of each of said members to facilitate sliding movement of the human along said surfaces.

11. The arrangement of claim 10 wherein said members include downwardly extending projections on the bottom surfaces thereof which are embedded in said layer of ice.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,238,431 8/1917 Nylund l04136 2,485,756 10/1949 Meehan 2807.13

3,201,138 8/1965 Brown, Jr. 280 11.13(LM) 3,442,522 5/1969 Spilhaus 28O-1 1.1

FOREIGN PATENTS 271,670 10/ 1951 Switzerland 280-1 1.13L

LEO FRIAGLIA, Primary Examiner M. L. SMITH, Assistant Examiner 

